Thai Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej has assigned deputy prime minister Sahas Banditkul to represent and act on behalf of Thailand in the absence of a foreign minister to sign agreements and attend the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean)’s foreign ministerial meeting in Singapore.

Thailand's foreign ministerial post has been left vacant since Noppadon Pattama resigned from the post to show responsibility for signing the joint statement backing Cambodia's move to register Preah Vihear temple as a World Heritage site.

His signing of the statement was ruled a breach of the Constitution by Thailand's Constitution Court.